A/N: T-minus 3 chapters and counting. As for the way to save Colin - think back to EYHD my long time readers. I went back and forth with this a lot and decided that sometimes the simplest solutions are the best. And now re: Becky - As some of you are well aware - my mind works in bizarre ways sometimes. :) No clue where that idea came from – but I hope you laugh as much as I did thinking it up. ;) Until 90! Enjoy! xox-G

Chapter Eighty-nine

"I know what to do. I'm going to go away to school, just like I planned to before I met him." Kate said with a sigh as she rested her head on a pillow, cradled in Alison's lap.

Alison ran her hand through her daughter's hair over and over, the motion making Kate sleepy - not that she wasn't already exhausted. "Sweetheart. You don't need to decide anything tonight."

Kate sat up and stared at her, her eyes incredibly sad. "No. I do. I need to go. I don't think I can stay here. I'll see him everyplace. I'll never be able to move on.

Alison's eyes filled with tears as she looked at Kate. Her heart ached because she knew the feeling. Knowing how much Kate loved Colin made her certain she wouldn't ever move on. "I know exactly what you mean. When your father went away all those years ago, people thought I'd gone crazy. I clung to every memory I had of him. I spent time in all the places that were special to us. He'd come back to me before and I knew, in my heart, if I believe it enough he'd come back again."

"That was so different, Mom." Kate shook her head. "Dad's time was cut short the first time around and you two were always meant to be together. Fate messed up and Grandpa Ed had to make it right again. It's the same with Aunt Abby and Uncle Cam. I bet it will be just like that for Lynnie too." She whispered.

"And where does that leave you?" Alison asked.

Kate shrugged as she wiped a tear from her cheek. "I have no idea. But I'm sure I'm not going to be that lucky."

"Katie, you never know." Alison scolded her daughter with a smile. "What do I always tell you? Miracles can happen."

Her daughter laughed bitterly. "That's sweet, Mom. That's a nice idea but you weren't there. You didn't see what happened."

"OK." Alison took Kate's hand in hers. "Then tell me how it was. Make me understand."

Kate took a deep breath, the pain she felt making her sick to her stomach. She had never felt so hopeless in her life. "I begged him – I told him over and over how much I loved him. I told him all the things you've taught me – that love can be stronger than evil and that if we just stayed together we could fight anything that came our way but he didn't hear me – or I guess he didn't want to. He let them win – Mom. The Colin I knew is gone now."

If that was true then Alison knew exactly what had gone on. "I don't think so, sweetheart." Alison said with a smile. "As a matter of fact - I'm absolutely certain he's still around."

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"Olivia. That isn't an option." Caleb insisted.

She pleaded with him. "No, Caleb. It's the only option. If you don't agree – I promise you I'll do it myself. Watching Colin grow old will be better than watching him die this way. " Livvie's eyes were shining with tears. "You know he won't give in. He's so stubborn and now he thinks he's already lost everything anyway."

"You have to save him, Caleb. He's our son." Livvie begged.

Caleb shook his head at her and moved away, staring out into the gardens just beyond the little courtyard where they were. He remembered how it had felt the time he was pushed into the spring. Every time he became mortal he felt so vulnerable – so powerless. When Livvie had finally been able to turn him again he felt invincible.

The hot spring was long gone but there was still a way to save his son. He knew now what she was telling him. Somehow, Olivia still had his ring.

Caleb turned to face her, his voice quiet and just a bit dangerous as he spoke. "I threw that away a long time ago."

"And I've kept it all these years." Livvie replied, pulling the heavy gold ring from her pocket. It was dull with age but it still held some sort of power. "Knowing the option was there made it easier to accept the life I've lived with you."

"I didn't realize it was such a burden." He said as he glared at her.

"It's not." Livvie insisted as she moved to stand before him. She rested her hand on his arm, moving up the length of it and finally reaching up to caress his face. "I love you Caleb. I love everything you are. You made this choice and I made it mine as well – because I know that there is no way I can live without you. I've tried and it just doesn't work. But here's the thing. Colin made his choice too and you've wasted so much time. You've been so angry that he wouldn't accept you that you made him do something he never wanted to do. Now it's gone way too far."

Livvie took him by the arms and shook him a bit.

She stared into his eyes and spoke softly. "You know it's true. You've done the same exact thing to him. You don't accept him for who he is either."

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"Mom. Didn't you hear me? He let them turn him. He's a vampire now. He's become a monster and I know that I couldn't bear to see him like that. Don't you see?" Kate felt like a failure for not saving him herself. "He wouldn't listen. No matter what I said I couldn't stop him."

"He told you he was giving in to save you didn't he?" Alison asked her then.

"Yes. So?" Kate was beginning to get frustrated. "What difference does it make? He still went ahead and did it after I begged him not to."

Alison knew a way to make Kate finally understand. Though at the time she was beyond destroyed, now, almost twenty years later she could actually smile. "Honey. Remember those letters of mine you found up in the attic a few years ago?"

Kate nodded, her heart aching as she remembered. "Yes. I do. As a matter of fact – I told Colin all about the one you wrote to me to try and make him understand."

"Do you remember the one I wrote to your father?"

Kate nodded. Sometimes she wished she'd known her parents way back when. Their life had been such a fairy tale. Her dad was always chasing off whatever evil threat that came their way until finally they were able to live in peace. It was amazing and Kate knew love like that only happened one time in a million. In her case Kate knew for sure the odds were not at all in her favor.

Alison was determined to make her daughter see the truth. "If I told you that I once told your father I never loved him – that I wished I never met him – what do you think he'd have done?"

Kate laughed – the whole thing sounded preposterous to her. "He'd never believe you."

Tears brimmed from Alison's eyes; memories flashing through her head and making her remember just how much she loved him. "What if I told him he was a failure and that I couldn't trust him do you think he'd believe me then?"

Kate's eyes went wide. "Mom – those words could never come out of your mouth, He'd be devastated if he thought you actually meant them. You love him way too much to hurt him like that."

"You're wrong, Katie. I said all that and more. I was so convincing that I made your father walk away and leave me." Alison replied.

"He'd never leave you." Kate shook her head. "Mom – he could never do that."

"Not only could he - he actually did." Alison shivered at the memory. "I said awful things to him and kept at it until I hurt him enough to get him to leave. The alternative was that he'd suffer and die. It was the only way I could think of to keep him safe and I did what I had to do." Alison took Kate's hands in hers and stared into her eyes. "Sweetheart – in his own way, Colin did the same thing for you."

"Mom..." Kate looked down at her lap. Her mother's words were ringing in her ears. She didn't dare hope.

Alison could see that she was getting through to her. "I know Colin's being turned would be the hardest thing in the world but knowing he did this for you – Katie you'd still love him – wouldn't you?"

"I'll always love him." Kate said as she laid her head down again, her mother's words giving her more to think about than before.

"Then I think you already know the answer." Alison said still worried as she quickly kissed her cheek. "Get some sleep sweetheart. Everything will look so much better in the morning." Straightening up, she shut off the light and walked out into the hallway.

Rafe greeted her there with a grin.

"I'm glad one of us is happy." Alison sighed and tried to smile herself.

"How's she doing?" Rafe asked as he pulled her close.

"She's not quite there yet – but I think eventually she'll be OK." She pulled back and looked up at him. "So, tell me. What's put that smile on your face?"

"It's...well. Becky." He smiled wider just remembering. "She gave me her list of names – if you could call it that."

Her eyes went wide and she grinned up at him. "OH! Did she really? I keep trying to get her to show me but she insisted on waiting for you." Alison's face fell when she realized he had started to laugh. "Oh God. Tell me now. What did she pick?"

"All I'm saying is you better pray I'm right and it's a girl." Rafe laughed louder as he ran a hand over her stomach.

"Rafe!" Alison grabbed his arms and shook him. "Tell me!"

"OK. Well. She doesn't have a list. She only has one girl name and one for a boy." Rafe's voice continued to shake with laughter. "Let me just say this, Angel. I think we've read her too many fairy tales."

"RAFE!" Alison was desperate. "How bad is it?"

"You sure you're ready?" He asked.

Alison smacked his arm in response.

"OK! OK! Guess so. Alright. For a girl she likes the name Ella Rose." Rafe said as he finally got a hold of himself. "Ella – by the way – means beautiful fairy. Rose – well, she knows they're your favorite flower. Plus it's your middle name too."

Though it was nothing that Alison had ever considered before – she really liked the sound of it. Ella Rose Kovich. She smiled up at him and sighed, just thinking of holding a new little baby in her arms. "That's not bad at all. I actually think it's very pretty."

"Me too." He said, his eyes squinting with amusement.

Alison could tell that he hadn't told her the bad news yet. "OK. What's the boy's name?"

Rafe burst into laughter again. It took him three tries to actually get the word out. "Elf."

"ELF?!" Alison was overcome with hysterics.

Rafe pulled her into their bedroom, not wanting Becky to hear them laughing at her expense. "Shh! Quiet – she'll hear you. Yes. Elf." He pulled back a bit and was almost doubled over. Clearing his throat he tried to compose himself. He stood up again and grinned as he continued. "Actually – his full name would be Elf Rafe. Becky insists that a boy fairy is an elf. And she thinks we should name him after me."

"Oh my God Rafe. How on earth did you keep a straight face with her? We can't name our child Elf." Tears of laughter ran down her cheeks. She was once again reminded of how lucky they were. Their children were goofy and challenging at times but at the same time entirely lovable. There would still be rough times in the future she was sure - but leave it to Becky to make her remember just how blessed they were in this life.

"Believe me it wasn't easy. She's absolutely serious. As for naming a child Elf - of course we can't - I completely agree." Rafe replied still laughing as he bent down to give her a kiss. "This is why you'd better hope that I'm right."

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"I thought he'd want this." Caleb said softly. "I thought he'd want to be just like me."

Livvie had always known that this was the real issue. "Caleb. He's a lot like you. He's just as stubborn as you are. He loves music, he plays like you – but he's not exactly like you. He's his own person. He's proven he'd kill himself trying to fight this. I'm begging you. Let him be himself or you'll lose him forever. If you do this I'll willing to bet you he'll be closer to you than you've ever imagined."

"We'll be turned back too." Caleb shivered a bit just imagining it. "You know that's one of the consequences."

"Caleb – that's no excuse and you know it. Annette can turn you back almost immediately – just as she did after we had Colin." Livvie reminded him. She knew how much he loved Colin – she had hope in her heart that she could finally make him see. She could see she was almost there but her real secret was that there was another dream that them turning back would help her accomplish. She decided to tell him everything before she lost her nerve. "Or..." She trailed off and looked at him shyly. "...maybe, if you want to – maybe we could try and have another one."

"Another child?" Caleb stared at her, dumbstruck. "Olivia. Is that really what you want?"

Livvie nodded, her heart lifting at the mere idea. "I've thought about it before – but once we had Colin I was happy enough to have him that it didn't seem so important. Now – I just feel like we missed out on so much – making the mistakes we made. If you do this it could be a second chance for us too, Caleb."

There was barely a choice to make. The love that shone in Livvie's eyes made him powerless to say no. If he made this wish, he could save his son and have more than he ever dreamed of. If they had another child, maybe he or she would choose to join them. Dreams he'd long since banished began to swirl in his head. He could suddenly see a little girl with a cloud of dark hair and eyes just like his smiling adoringly up at him. It was something that he never dreamed he could have. Maybe it would be different - maybe not - but he'd never know unless he tried. He took the ring from Livvie's hand and gave her a grin. "Here goes nothing." He said as he closed his eyes. Pausing, he opened them again and gave Livvie a little smirk. "A little mortality never hurt anyone."